Bellarmine Prep defense swarms Edmonds-Woodway, Lions punch ticket to 3A semis
Ronnie Wiggins knew that lockdown defense was the key to unlock a trip to the Final Four. Bellarmine Prep swarmed and smothered No. 11 Edmonds-Woodway from start to finish in Thursday’s 3A quarterfinals — and it was Wiggins at the forefront of an all-around clinic.
Bellarmine Prep and Edmonds-Woodway traded eight first-half lead changes, but Wiggins and Co. eventually pulled away. The junior guard delivered a game-high 18 points that lifted Bellarmine Prep, 60-48, over the Warriors and into Friday’s state semis at the Tacoma Dome.
Punch those tickets for the ‘Final Four.’
“It feels amazing,” Wiggins said. “We were here last year. We fell short, but we’re coming back. Coach got us prepared all year. We’ve got some seniority on the team now.”
Bellarmine Prep’s student section brought the energy, too. Hundreds of Wiggins’ classmates made the four-mile trek from campus, nearly filling an entire section at the Tacoma Dome. The Lions noticed.
“It gives us crazy energy, knowing that the whole school’s got your back,” Wiggins said. “That makes us want to win it all. I appreciate them for showing up.”
If their regional win over Eastside Catholic wasn’t enough, let Thursday’s win serve as another reminder: Bobby Moorehead and the Lions are building something special at Bellarmine Prep. The second-year head coach took them to last year’s 3A quarterfinals at the Tacoma Dome, notching a sixth-place finish in the bracket. He’s already one-upped himself in Year 2.
Every practice starts with defense, Wiggins said. It showed Thursday.
“That was the message,” Moorehead said. “That’s the message we’ve been pushing the entire year. We’re a defensive team. We’re going to make silly mistakes. We’re going to shoot some bad shots on offense, but when it comes down to it, we need to get stops.”
Wiggins finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, assuming a larger role in the absence of injured guard Kade Price (knee). Frontcourt brothers Ben and Luke Heisel combined for 16 points and 10 rebounds; Birk Johnston added 14 points.
Edmonds-Woodway guard Dennis ‘DJ’ Karl led the Warriors with 17 points and six rebounds.
Bellarmine Prep meets No. 1 Rainier Beach in Friday’s 3A semifinals. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. in Tacoma.
This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 11:44 AM.
